Expansible hinge for trunk cases



M h 1929- H. SCHWARZENBERGER ET AL! L707J E7 EXPANSIBLE HINGE FOR TRUNK CASES Filed June i927 :5 4m Fig.6. 4L 4 3 3 1L Qmk wh M49. zm 6 Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

UNlTED STATES nose sonwenznnennenn Ann WILLY iii/Line, or nnnnrrnnne,

EXPANSIBLE HINGE F0333 TRUNK UAXEJEF'.

Applicatiunfilerl June 2, 192?,Eie1'1'a1 No. 195;:12, and in Germany June 2,

This (invention has reference to trunks, cases and similar receptacles constructed with flexible or rigid walls and provided with extensible hinge or lock bends adapted by telescopic action to ailord Variable accoinrnodation or capacity for the contents; the hinge or look bands in some instances comprising telescoping; bodies arranged so as to be automatically adjustable or ()ix'tQRSb ble against spring tension upon the latter being; overcome as the result of closing the trunk, ease or the like.

In the ease of flexible walled trruihs and the like the walls only become taut when the trunks are fully packed, thesaid walls lying together under the influence of the straps when the trunk is pacliied only to a moderate extent. Thus the contents are only slightly protected.

'l'he present invention has for its object to provide an improved construction of hinge or look bend or epplication to trunks and similar receptacles oi the hind herein referred to in which one of tie telescopic bodies is adopted for frictional retention in a position of adjustment in relation to the other of said bodies by means of laterally yielding or expanding flaps or spreuders, thereby enabling the adjustmei'it oi' the hinge or look band to be easily and com veoiently eltected in any position that may be required to correspond with the contents or extent of packing oi the trunk or the like at the time 01'? use.

in order that the invention may be readily understood and carried into ellect some will now be more fully described with ref-- erence to the accompanying drawing in which a trunk or the like is represented having the improved hinge or look band applied thereto, and in which Figures 1 to 3 illustrate, in side elevation the trunk with the parts thereof in various positions.

l igures i: and 5 show a hinge or look bzu'id; Figure -ft being a longitudinal section and Figure 5 an under side view thereof.

liig'ui'e 6 is a View similar to Figure 5 of a portion of the inner body removed from the outer body showing; the eliect of the spring on the outwardly pressed friction members.

Figures 7 end 8 are views in section taken respectively on the lines A--B and C-D in Fi 'ure l.

Loeterring to Figures 1 to 3, the trunk con trunk parts are connected with one another by hinge or look bancs comprising telescopic prismatic bodies 8, ti liiggures -21 to i of lJ-shaped cross eectirm. ilhe i 1 the enter one and is provided wd i lugs 5, formed by bending the metal at right angles, which serve in fas ening th hinge or look band to the tr ink lid by means of screws or such like, a covering; plate (5, holed for the passage of the screws, being: inter posed between the said body and tie surface oi the trunk lid, the inner body lin. its retracted or normal position, projects somewhat from the outer body 3 end his projecting part carries a rectaugggular or squere ring 7 which attached to or engi es on eyelet 8 articulated or tired in the hash wall oi the cutie port 1 (it the trunk.

The said inner body is provided at the end rei'note from the ring 7, with laterally spreedable members or flaps 4i 3-. formed hy sli. Hug, as indicated at 4;, the said body a certain distance at the angles of the based" with the sides the seid base being; bent into an approxiniatcly circular form in cross tion as indicated at 10 s as to enclose :1 spring); 9 and retain it in operative relation witl the inenilwrs'or flaps i. Thus the said members are subjected to a strong spring pressure which. tends to flex or bend the same outwards so as to cause them to TlfllC- tionally eiurage the adjacent inner sides oi the outer body It desired with a View to increasing the friction the surfaces n'iay be ribbed, roughened or otherwise treated.

By these means a strong friction coupling or connection is effected between the bodies 3 and 41-, which renders possible the adjustment of the said bodies relatively in every position without risk oi displacen'ient occurring as the result of the pressure incidental to the packed contents of the trunk or the like.

T he coveringplate 6 is formed with a lug; portion 11 which acts as a stop to prevent the inner body 4: being wholly witl'idrawn from the outer body 3, the spring, enclosing: part 10 pertaining to the body at contacting with the said lug 11 when the inner body is withdrawn to its full extent. r

The loch bonds are similar in construction.

, lated eyelet, is fitted with a lock catch 12 of any usual or known kind (see Figures 1 to 9 V U t will'be readily understood that in the case of the trunk, Figure 1, being filled only to the edge of the case part 1, or a little beyond, the lengthening of the hinge and lock bands will not be required and the trunk can be manipulated (opened and locked) in the ordinary manner, I r

If, however, the trunk case part 1 is filled very perceptibly above the upper edge the lid will lie with its lid wall against the packed contents and the turning of the lid to close the trunk is not elfected about the hinge but about the supporting point of the lid through the contents of the trunk; Con- 'se ue'ntl pressure is exerted on the hin 'e L to bands and the bodies 3 and 1 thereof assume the requisite relative positions governed by the extent of packed contents, the movement of the said bodies being limited to that actually required by the contents. T he hinge banes may however be lengthened before effecting the closing of the trunk a procedure that may be advantageous when the bands are of stout or very strong construction making the resistance considerable and that of the contents bein insuliicient to overcome the frictional connection of the bodies comprising the bands.

By means of the rings 7, a kind of double hinging is provided which, while avoiding strains or stress on the hinges and the afore said point of support, enables the closing to V be 'efllecte'd conveniently and-easily with the lengthening ofthe bands. The actual clos- 'ing of the trunk is effected by withdrawing the inner bodies of thelock bands and pressing the lock-catches into the looks as will be readily understood.

The form and lcnglh of the hinge and lock bands mayobviously be varicd to suit varying conditions without departing from the essential. features of the invention.

Having now particularly dcscribcd and ascertained the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is:

1, An QXPiIllf-llllltl hinge for trunk cases which comprises apair of telescoping mcmbers provided with means for atlachnwnt to the receptacle, the inner member being split at one end, and a spring for forcing opposite portions; of said split end into frictional engagement with the outer member.

2. 'An expansible hinge for trunk cases which comprises a pair oi telescoping mcmhers provided with means for athu-bmcnt lo the receptacle, the inner member being split at one end, and a spring for forcing opposite portions of said split end into frictional engagement with the outer mcmbcr, said split end also having a portion bent to form a holder for said spring.

3. An expansible hinge for trunk cascs which comprises a pair of lclcscoping U- shaped members in frictional engagement with each other and having their channel openings directed downwardly, the outcrmost member having securing means cxicnding horizontally from its side walls, and a horizontal plate in contact with said securing means and having an integral tongue projecting upwardly therefrom into the channel of the inner member and cooperating therewith to limit its longitudinal movement.

In testimony whcrcof we have signed our names to this specification at Nuremberg, Bavaria, this 13th day of May, 1927.

HUGO SCHlVA RZEN BERGER. lVILLY SCHMIDT. 

